WHAT ARE THE STUDY
LIMITATIONS, AND HOW
SHOULD THEY BE STATED?
An Academic presentation by
Dr. Nancy Agnes, Head, Technical Operations,
Pubrica Group: www.pubrica.com
Email: sales@pubrica.com

Introduction
4. Goals of presenting
limitations
5. Conclusion
Importance of study
limitations
01
02
03
Possible Methodological
Limitations
Today Discussion

A study's limits are its defects or deficiencies, which
could be due to a shortage of resources, a limited
sample size, or faulty methodology, among other
things.
There is no such thing as a flawless study covering all
potential aspects.As a result,addressing the
limitations of your research demonstrates honesty and
integrity and a thorough comprehension of the subject.
In brief
contd...

However, the study's limitations are those aspects of the design or methodology that impacted or
influenced the submission or interpretation of the findings.
Finally, they are limitations on the case report writing services generalizability and usability of
findings that are the outcome of the study design and the method employed to establish internal
and external validity.

Introduction
All studies have limitations, regardless of their shape,
from qualitative research to clinical trials. Limitations
are flaws in the study that may impact the research's
results and conclusions.
The purpose of discussing limitations is to offer the
reader helpful information; nevertheless, constraints in
medical education articles are frequently disregarded
or reduced to rudimentary and insignificant themes
(e.g., single-institution study, use of self-reported data,
or small sample size).
contd...

This problem is also prevalent in other areas of medical research. Medical studies, for
example, sometimes neglect to disclose how restrictions may have influenced study
findings and interpretations, despite the clinical implications.
Furthermore, readers are frequently reminded of the fundamental weakness of
observational studies, which is the inability to infer causation (2).
Researchers miss opportunities to express the significance of their work adequately,
demonstrate how their work improves a more critical topic under study, and offer
prospective areas for additional exploration by disclosing generic limits or ignoring them
entirely.

Importance of study limitations
Always be aware of the limits of a case study report
writing. It is far better for you to recognize and admit
the limitations of your study rather than devising them
pointed out by your professor and receiving a worse
grade because you appear to have overlooked them.
Remember that acknowledging a study's shortcomings
provides a chance to make recommendations for future
research. For example, if you link your study's limitations
to future research ideas,describe how your findings
may help concentrate these outstanding concerns.
contd...

Because you must assess the effects of those limits, claiming limits is a subjective
procedure. Don't only mention the study's significant flaws and the size of its limitations.
It lowers the credibility of your study since it leaves the reader wondering whether or
how limitations in your investigation influenced the findings and conclusions. Limitations
necessitate a thorough examination and assessment of their influence.
You should respond to the following question: do these errors, methods, validity, and
other issues eventually matter, and if yes, to what extent?
There are limitations to every study
.
contd...

However, it would help if you confined your discussion to limits relevant to the research subject
under consideration.
For example, a meta-analysis of current literature should not be discussed as a limitation if it is
not a stated objective of your research.
Do not apologize for failing to address the concerns you promised to look into in your paper.

Design or Methodology
Lack of prospective designs
Poor control of confounding variables
Lack of objective measurement of confounting variables
Quality-of-life measurements not well timed to transfusion or theraphy
Best supportive care is left to clinician discretion ratherthan developed into specific protocol
(e.g.,when and amount to transfuse)
Variable time intervals between data collection points
Brief study duration (often 1
2 weeks or shorter)
Conceptual or Definition
Terms (e.g., Transfusion dependence, supportive care) operation- ally defined in an
inconsistent manner
Quality of life inconsistently conceptualized or defined
Analysis
Intent-to-treat analysis not typically
used
Small samples
High attrition rates
Data often pooled between study arms
Result
Impact of theraphy on quality of life
unknown in those who were dropped from
syudy
Long-term impact of theraphy on quality of
life unknown
Specific impact on social or emotional
domains not well known
What are the study limitations, and
how should they be stated?

Possible Methodological Limitations
Sample size — the number of units of analysis you
utilize in your study is determined by the research
problem you're looking at.
It's worth noting that if your sample size is too small,
finding significant relationships from the data will be
difficult, as statistical tests typically need a larger
sample size to ensure an illustrative distribution of
the population and to be considered characteristic
of groups of people to whom the results will be
generalized or transferred.
contd...

Lack of available and reliable data — a lack of data or reliable data will almost
certainly force you to limit the scope of your study and the size of your sample, or it will
be a major obstacle to discovering a trend and a relevant link.
Not only should you mention these restrictions, but you should also explain why you
believe data is missing or untrustworthy. Don't throw up your hands in frustration; use this
as a chance to explain why more research is needed.
Deficit of prior research studies on the topic — mentioning earlier studies serves as
the foundation for your literature review and helps understand the research challenge
you're looking into. However, there may be little prior research on your research topic,
depending on its currency or scope.
contd...

Measures used to collect data — it's not uncommon to realize after you've finished
interpreting the findings that the way you acquired data troubled your ability to perform
a thorough analysis of the results.
For example, you may regret the error of a question from a survey that, in retrospect,
could have helped resolve a problem that surfaced later in the research. Recognize the
flaw by mentioning that future research will need to revise the specific medical data
collection approach.
Self-reported data is limited because it can rarely be independently confirmed,
whether relying on pre-existing self-reported data or conducting a qualitative research
study and acquiring it yourself.
contd...

However, there are several potential sources of bias in self-reported data that should be
acknowledged as limitations: (1) exaggeration [the act of exaggerating positive events and
outcomes to one's agency but attributing adverse events and outcomes to external forces];
(2) telescoping [recalling events that occurred at one time as if they occurred at another time];
(3)attribution [attributing positive events and outcomes to one's agency but attributing adverse
events and outcomes to external forces]; and,
(4)selective memory (remembering or not remembering experiences or events that occurred in
the past) 4).

Goals of presenting limitations
Medical education scholarship should produce
empirical evidence that adds to our knowledge and
understanding of education, informs educational
practice and process, and acts as a forum for other
researchers to learn from.
It is a vital component of the scientific method to
provide study limitations. Without them,study
consumers cannot completely comprehend potential
exclusion regions or other biases that may affect the
findings and conclusions.
contd...

By highlighting gaps in current research and existing
literature,study limitations should leave the reader
interested in future improvements, developing other
researchers' curiosity and desire to further the line of
academic investigation.
The limits of a study should present research findings
in their proper context so that readers can judge the
reliability of a study's conclusion and generalize
findings appropriately (5).

Conclusion
Finally, by ignoring or presenting shortened and
generalized limits, authors may be restricting the
impact of their research.
We provide several examples of limitations to
consider; however, because limitations help the
reader focus on key findings, it is critical to address
only the most important limitations of the study
related to the specific research problem rather than
the general limitations that most studies face.
contd...

First, it's critical not to restrain the study's or
outcomes' shortcomings. Instead, the findings and
their limitations must help readers distinguish current
research and existing literature. These problems
might be alleviated if academic and research
institutions implemented policies and expectations
to help authors adequately describe limitations.

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